Update on Edmonton Oilers' Top Prospects

Update on Edmonton Oilers' Top Prospects

The Edmonton Oilers are currently mired in one of the worst starts in team history.

The roster is currently struggling to find their footing early into the NHL season, while many of the Oilers’ top prospects have had strong performances at their respective junior clubs.

With the situation in Edmonton looking so bleak, there are a few players from the prospect list who could be called upon to bolster the lineup before the season is out.

Here is an update on how some of the Oilers’ top prospects are doing so far in 2013-14.

Jujhar Khaira

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After playing in the NCAA last season, Jujhar Khaira is adapting well to the WHL with Everett.Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Jujhar Khaira is building upon a strong season last year playing for Michigan Tech University, and it appears that the strong showing he put forth during Oilers’ training camp has helped his game at the WHL level.

Eight games into the WHL season, Khaira has registered three goals and two assists while racking up 13 penalty minutes.

Khaira has demonstrated that he is more than capable of transitioning from the NCAA to the WHL and will hope to continue to build upon his strong start in Everett.

Oscar Klefbom

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Klefbom has had a slow adjustment to the North American game in the AHL thus far.Andy Devlin/Getty Images

Oscar Klefbom has had a slow transition to North American hockey with the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.

Klefbom has failed to register a point in four AHL games this season and currently holds a minus-one rating.

This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, as not only is Klefbom playing in his first season outside of Sweden, but the Oilers’ top defensive prospect is also coming off of a major shoulder injury that required surgery.

As Klefbom rounds into game shape and acclimates himself to the nuances of North American hockey, he could very well see some ice time for the Oilers this season as a call-up.

Darnell Nurse

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Darnell Nurse is off to a fantastic start in the OHL.Derek Leung/Getty Images

Darnell Nurse is off to a stellar start for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League this season.

The Oilers’ seventh-overall pick in last year's NHL Entry Draft has registered seven points and 16 penalty minutes in seven games for the Greyhounds thus far.

Nurse had a decent training camp for the Oilers but is still raw and has plenty of room to develop physically.

Experiencing his first NHL training camp will be extremely beneficial for Nurse, as he enters the OHL season knowing what parts of his game he needs to improve in order to take the next step in his career.

Should Nurse continue his strong play, he should be more than a lock to make the Canadian national team for the World Junior tournament beginning in December.

Martin Marincin

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The Oilers will need Marincin to take the next step in his development this year in Oklahoma City.Noah Graham/Getty Images

Entering his second season with the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League, expectations are pretty high for the rugged defenseman.

Marincin is viewed as one of the better blue-line prospects for the Edmonton Oilers. After registering 30 points last season, he will once again be looked upon to continue his offensive contributions while refining his defensive skills.

In four games this season, Marincin has failed to register a point and currently holds a minus-one rating, not stellar numbers for a player looking to make an impression within the Oilers’ farm system.